Andrea Bocelli was Going to Sing at Trump’s Inauguration Until Fans Turned on Him

Once upon a time — like, right before this election — it was honorable to perform for the president.

Famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli was all set to perform at the inauguration of Donald Trump. But as news spread of his upcoming gig, fans decided a “Boycott Bocelli” movement might be in order, and that was enough for him to back out.

As Page Six reported earlier, Trump went to Bocelli’s concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden this month to ask him personally about performing in Washington D.C. in a few weeks.

“Trump has a long-standing relationship with Bocelli, and wants to ask him in person to perform,” a source told Page Six. “The plan is to have acts at the inauguration that are meaningful for Trump, and he’s a huge fan of Bocelli.”

The source added, “One thing is for sure, you won’t see Beyoncé lip-synching again this year.”

Another source told the outlet that the cancellation was Trump’s idea:

“Trump suggested to Bocelli he not participate because of the backlash. It’s sad people on the left kept him from performing on a historic day.”

Imagine the backlash an entertainer would get if he or she had turned down an offer to sing for President Obama or Hillary Clinton if she had won. Now, suddenly, it’s dishonorable to sing for an incoming president of the United States if you disagree with his politics. So much for patriotism.